Coyotes Force Play-in Game Aganst Community

Friday

Feb 14, 2014 at 11:20 AM

By Marcus ElliottSports Editor

The Anna Coyotes had to win at least one of their final two games for a chance to make the postseason. They made it happen on Feb. 7 in Community but fell in their final regular season game on Feb. 11 at Bonham. A win would have given Anna a fourth place finish in the district and guarantee a playoff berth.

Melissa helped keep the Coyotes playoff hopes alive, however, when they took down Community on Tuesday night. The Braves and Coyotes both finished 2-6 in district play, tied for fourth, and will have to go head-to-head one final time to determine who will make it to the playoffs to take on District 11-3A champion Dallas Madison.

Date and time for the play-in game were not available by the Tribune deadline.

Bonham 46, Anna 36

In a game that would have clinched a playoff spot for the Coyotes on Tuesday they were unable to get the road win despite being within one point in the second half. Bonham led 10-4 at the end of the first quarter but the Coyotes were able to get their offense moving in the second period and close the gap to five by halftime.

Anna started the third quarter on a 4-0 run to get within one point of the lead; however, that was as close as it got with Bonham extending its lead to double digits at the end of the third and holding on late to get the win.

Anna faced a must-win situation on Friday when it took on Community. The night was not just about avenging an earlier loss from when it fell in the first meet-up in district play. And not only was it about keeping playoff hopes alive, that that hovered over the game. No, it was senior night, where Adriun Harrison and Ben Ramos were honored before the game, and it was Harrison that took over to lead his team to the win.

In the first half of district play, Anna had a hard time shooting the ball but had resurged in the last three games – leading to a win over Princeton and, on this night, a double-digit win over Community.

Harrison has been the team leader in scoring all season but he stepped up his game against the Braves, finishing with 15 points, eight assists, three steals and an amazing 22 rebounds.

Anna was able to start strong, taking a 14-10 lead at the end of the opening quarter. That momentum continued in the second period as it was able to take a 10-point advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Both teams had a slower pace in the third quarter and scored just 15 combined points after the break. The Coyotes, however, were able to finish strong with a 17-10 fourth to get the 52-38 win.

Sophomore Brennan White had a strong game, finishing with 11 points to chip in from down low. Keamoni Mattocks scored six on the night.